Cosmetic container or the like



March 20, 1951 w. e. THOMPSON ET AL 2,545,364

COSMETIC CONTAINER OR THE LIKE Filed May 26, 1949 INVENTOR. [AM 6. THOMPSON ROBERT B. HOPGOOD ATTORNEYS Patented Mar. 20, 1951 William G. Thompson, Clinton, Mass, and Robert B. Hopgood, Cheshire, Conn., assignors to The Eyelet Specialty Company, Waterbury, Conn.,

a corporation of Connecticut Application May 26, 1949., Serial No. 95,452

19 Claims.

Our invention "relates to cosmetic or the like containers, and in particular to those containers in which a carrier for cosmetics or the like is propelled upon a relative rotation of two parts ;of the container.

In cosmetic containers of the character indicated, it is important that the carrier cup be retained in a retracted position as long as the closure cap for the container is in a covering position. If the carrier should be projected while the cap is over the container, the inside of the cap may become soiled and the lipstick may be deformed. Such projection of the carrier may be inadvertent, and it often occurs due solely to vibration or handling in shipment.

It is, accordingly, an object of the invention to provide an improved device of the character indicated. I

It is another object to provide an improved means for retaining a carrier cup in its retracted position.

It is a further object to provide an improved means for retaining a carrier cup in a retracted position as long as the closure cap is over the container.

It is a specific object to provide an improved means for positively retaining a carrier cup in a retracted position as long as the closure cap is over the container, said positive retaining means involving as inconspicuous an elementas posdislodgement from latched position so long as the closure cap is in place.

It is also a specific object to provide improved means for latching two relatively rotatable container members for one relative position thereof,

" the latching means serving the further function oflightly frictionally resisting relative rotation of said members, whereby deliberate operation is required in order to propel the carrier.

It is a general object to meet the above objects ,with a simple construction which requires no more parts than are conventionally employed and 1m which the propelling action may be substan- .tially unimpaired.

Other objects and various further features of the; invention will be pointed out or will occur tothose skilled in the art from a reading of the following specification in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. In said drawings, which show, for illustrative purposes only, preferred forms of the invention Fig. 1 is a side elevation in partial section of -a cosmetic container incorporating features of the invention; r a

Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1, but with the parts shown in a relatively rotated position;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary view similar to Fig. l, but showing a modified construction according to the invention; I

Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary view, with .pa'rts sectioned in the plane 4-4 of Fig. 3;

rier cup may include an outwardly projecting lug or cam-follower means for propulsion by and within two relatively rotatable tubular members having diverging cam'slots engaged by the camfollower means. Latch means may be carried by one of the relatively rotatable parts for engage,- ment with another relatively rotatable part, and

in the forms to be described such latch means is formed directly out of the material of the outer tubular member. The inner tubular member or shell may include an enlarged base portion for finger engagement.

In the forms to be described, a generally axially flexed latch member carried by the outer rotatable member or sleeve is engageable with abutment means at or near the base of the inner shell. The latch itself may further be provided with a part extending radially outwardly into a position to intercept theclosure cap,- effectively to dog the mechanism as long as the closure cap is in place. In one form, this projecting part may frictionally engage the inner surface :of the closure cap, and in another form this projection may be in longitudinally overlapping relation with the base or skirt of the closure cap,

so that, upon an attempted relative rotation of the propelling parts, the projection may be driven against the skirt of the closure cap before the latch becomes disengaged, thereby effectively dogging the mechanism.

Viewed in another light, the holding action characterizing said one form may be predominantly frictional. In other words, whether or not the latch function is desired, this form contemplates a normal frictional engagement or rub between a part (which may be the latch member) of the outer rotatable member and one of the inner members movable relatively thereto. This part may include means extending sufficiently radially outwardly for frictional engagement with the inner wall of the closure cap, whereby upon placement of the cap sufiicient additional friction may be interposed between (otherwise relatively freely) relatively movable members effectively to resist such relative movement as long as the cap is in place.

In Figs. 1 and 2, we show our invention as applied to a container including a cosmetic carrier or cup ID to be longitudinally propelled within the container. Thecup I may include at its lower end a cam follower I I projecting generally radially outwardly. The carrier I0 may be propelled upon relative rotation of an inner tubular member or shell I2 and of another tubular member or sleeve I3. Both tubular members may have cooperating cam means to engage the cam follower II; in the form shown, the cam on the inner shell I2 is a straight slot I4, and the cam on the sleeve I3 is a spiral slot I5. The inner shell may be formed with an enlarged base por- 'tion I6 accessible for finger actuation, and the assembly may be completed by an outer tubular casing I! which may be secured to sleeve l3. When the container is not in use, a closure cap I8 may be placed over the described assembly. The parts which have been described thus far are old and therefore form no part of our invention.

In accordance with the invention, we provide latch means on one of the tubular members to engage part of another tubular member and thus latchingly to retain the carrier I!) in a given longitudinal position. In the present case, we are interested in retaining the carrier I0 in its lowermost or retracted position, and therefore our latch means is effective for such retracted posi-' tion. In the form shown, the latch means is carried by the sleeve I3 and is formed out of the sheet material constituting the sleeve IS. The latch means may be a simple lug I9 having a generally axially directed resilient action, as for engagement with abutment means at or near the base I6 of the inner shell. The latch I 9 may thus be characterized by a circumferentially arcuate arm 20 to be flexed over a relatively extensive portion having a cross-section of relatively high moment of inertia, that is, the width of arm 29 (in the longitudinal direction) may be several times the thickness of the material of the sleeve I3. The abutment means on the base I6 of the inner shell may be formed on or out of a radial ledge or flange portion 22 axially overstanding the lower end of the sleeve I3 and forming the enlargement which characterizes the base porliberate relative rotation of the base I6 and of the tubular casing II.

In operation, it will be clear that the latch member I9 may be normally preloaded (as by engagement of the sleeve I3 with a retaining head 4 2| on the inner shell I2) to drop into the latch opening 24 when the carrier I0 is in the down or retracted position. Upon a deliberate relative rotation of the base I6 and of the outer casing II, the latch I9 may be cammed out of the opening 24 by riding over the abutment 23 and onto the ledge 22. It will be noted that, for all carrier positions except the retracted position, the latch I9 may frictionally engage the ledge 22 so as to eliminate apparent looseness of the parts and so as to require some deliberate actuation for propulsion of the carrier. Such frictional engagement may also assist in retaining the carrier II] in an up-po'sition while the lipstick is being used.

In Figs. 3 and 4, we show a modified construction wherein the latch itself carries means to cooperate with the closure cap I8 in order to dog the latch and thus positively to prevent any propulsion of the carrier when the carrier is retracted. The parts of Figs. 3 and 4 may be essentially the same as those for Figs. 1 and 2, except that the resilient latch I9 is formed with a part 25 projecting radially outwardly for frictional engagement with the inner surface of the closure cap I8, as shown in Fig. 4. The projection 25 is shown extending through a small window 29, which may be a recess in the skirt of the outer tubular casing II.

To permit non-binding action of the cosmetic container, there may normally be a radial clearance 26 between the sleeve I3 and the inner shell I3, and, if desired, the latch I9 may be flexed radially inwardly to take up this clearance 26, and resiliently to oppose and frictionally to engage the closure cap. However, in the form shown, I prefer that the latch I9 be formed with a portion 21 normally extending radially inwardly so as to span the clearance 26 and so as to ride against the outer surface of the'inner shell I2. In such case, placement of the closure cap I8 need involve no radially inward displacement of the latch I9. U

An adequate frictional bind on the projecting part 25 may be had by employment of spring means 28 struck out of the outer tubular casing I1 and projecting for resilient friotional'engagement with the inner surface of the closure cap I 8. The projection 28 may be one of several such projections, but the net effect of such projections 28 will be understood to cause a radially inward loading of the closure cap I8 0n the projecting part 25 of the latch I9. When so loaded, it will be understood that the closure cap I8 may bind (and thus eifectively dog) the latch I9 against dislodgment and therefore the carrier against propulsion.

If desired, and as indicated generally above, the holding action characterizing the form of Figs. 3 and 4 may be predominantly frictional. Whether or not the latch function is desired, this form contemplates a normal frictional engagement or rub between a part of the outer rotatable member and one of the inner members movable relatively thereto; in the form shown, this normal friction engagement occurs between the latch bend 21 and the outer surface of the inner shell I2. The latch bend 21 may thus be said to be a friction part, which may be driven into a greater frictional relationship with the inner shell whenever the closure cap I8 is engaged by the latch projection 25. When so engaged, it will be appreciated that normally relatively. movable members of the container may be so bound to each other as effectively to resist container op, eration as long as the cap I8 is in place. r

In Figs. 5, 6, and '7, we show a further modification' in which a latch member 19 is again formed out of the sleeve l3 but includes a generally radially directed projection or lug 39 extending through a small window 3! at the base of the outer tubular casing H and in longitudinally overlapping or intercepting relation with the base or skirt of the closure cap i8. It will be understood that by employing the usual friction means (as at 28, for the form of Figs. 3 and i) in the form of Figs. 5, 6, and 7, the closure cap I8 may be held with sufficient frictional bind so as to abut and hold the lug 31] against upward axial displacement. With the construction of Figs. 5, 6, and 7, therefore, the closure cap l3 may efiectively cooperate with the lug Sate do the carrier IE3 against propulsion.

It will be appreciated that we have described improved and reiatively simple constructions for resiliently or frictionally latching or holding cosmetic-container parts in a given relative position. If desired, the cosmetic-container parts may be positively dogged against operation, if the latch member is only slightly modified. Our constructions lend themselves to ready fabrication, in that no additional parts are required over standard constructions, and the completed assemblies may be of pleasing appearance, involving no conspicuous projecting parts.

While we have described our invention in detail for the preferred forms shown, it will be understood that modifications may be made within the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

We claim:

1. In a cosmetic container or the like, a carrier member, two relatively rotatable tubular members including means cooperating with said carrier member to propel said carrier member upon relative rotation of said tubular members, resilient latch means integrally formed from one of said members and poised for resilient interception of and engagement with another of said members solely through the action of relative movement of said members, said latch means including a part constantly radially outside the outer circumference of said outer tubular rneinher and movable externally of said outer tubular member upon latching engagement, and a closure cap fitting said outer tubular member and limiting the extent .of said exterior movement.

2. In a cosmetic container or the like, a carrier member, two relatively rotatable tubular members including means cooperating with said carrier member to propel said carrier member upon relative rotation of said tubular members, and latch means between two of said members latchingly engaging said last-identified two members for one relative position of said lastidentified two members, said latch means including a latch abutment on one of said members and a latch formed out of the material of another of said members and being actuable substantially only within the annulus represented by the thickness of said material and solely through the action of relative movement of said tubular members.

3. In a cosmetic container or the like, a carrier, two relatively rotatable tubular members including means cooperating with said carrier to propel said carrier upon relative rotation of said tubular members, a deformable element including a radial projection constantly extending radially beyond the outer circumference of said outer tubular member and formed integrally out of the material of one of said tubular members. means carried by the other of said tubular members and effective at substantially only one relative position of said members to deform said deformable member, and a closure cap including means to limit the deformation of said deformable member.

4. In a cosmetic container or the like, a carrier member, two relatively rotatable tubular members including means cooperating with said carrier member to propel said carrier member upon relative rotation of said tubular members, a closure cap, and latch means including a resilient generally axially flexible member integrally formed from one of said members and an abutment on the other of said members to resiliently latch said last-mentioned two members for one relative position thereof, said latch means in-. cluding means constantly positioned to engage said closure cap and serving to dog said latch means upon such engagement.

5. A cosmetic container according to claim 4, in which said last-defined means is movable upon a relative rotation of said tubular members and in which said closure cap when placed on said container serves to prevent such movement upon relative rotation.

6. In a cosmetic container or the like, a car- ,rier member, two relatively rotatable tubular members including means cooperating with said carrier member to propel said carrier member upon relative rotation of said tubular members, the inner of said tubular members being formed with a base including a radially outwardly ex-. tending ledge overstanding an axial end of the other of said tubular members, a latch abutment on said ledge, and a resilient latch projection formed out of said other tubular member for latching engagement with said abutment.

'7. In a cosmetic container or the like, a carrier member, and two relatively rotatable tubular members having cooperating means to propel said carrier member upon relative rotation of said tubular members, one of said members having formed out of the surface thereof a latch member to engage apart of one of theother of said members for one relative position, said latch member being characterized by an elongated arm having a flexing portion of width several times its thickness and. to be flexed against its width, the latch action of said latch member being characterized essentially by flexure against said width.

8. In a cosmetic container or the like, a carrier member, an inner shell, a sleeve rotatable relatively to said shell and including means cooperating with said carrier member and with said inner shell to propel said carrier member upon such rotation, said inner shell being formed with a base portion for finger engagement, said base portion including a generally radially extending ledge overstanding an axial end of said sleeve, a latch abutment on the base portion of said inner shell and a resilient latch formed at said end of said sleeve, said latch comprising a circumferentially arcuate relatively extensive arm flexible generally in an axial direction and with axially projecting means to cooperate with said latch abutment.

9. A container according to claim 8, in which the flexed part of said latch carries a part projecting sufliciently radially outwardly for engagement with a closure cap placed over said container.

10. In a cosmetic container or the like, a carrier, an inner shell and a sleeve member including cooperating cam means to engage said carrier for propelling said carrier upon relative rotation of said inner shell and of said sleeve member, an outer-tubular-casing member fixed. relatively to said sleeve member, a closure cap, an axial latch abutment on said inner shell and resilient latching means formed out of one of said members and having a latch action substantially within the annulus represented by the thickness of said one member, said latching means being engageable with said latch abutment for resiliently latchingly holding one relative position of said parts.

11. A container according to claim 10, in which said latch includes a part projecting radially beyond the outer circumference of said outer tubular casing member and also beyond the inner circumference of said closure cap, whereby upon placement of said closure cap said cap may serve I to dog said latch.

12. In a cosmetic container or the like, a carrier, an inner shell including an enlarged base portion for finger engagement, a sleeve member, an outer-tubular-casing member, and a closure cap, said sleeve member and said inner shell including means cooperating with said carrier to propel said carrier upon a relative rotation of said sleeve member and of said inner shell, a generally axially movable element formed out of one of said members at the end thereof near said enlarged base portion of said inner shell, abutment means on said inner shell and cooperating with said element for one relative position of the parts, said element being formed to include a radially extending part projecting in axial intercepting relation with said closure cap.

13. A container according to claim 12, in which said projecting part is formed for frictional engagement with the inner surface of said closure cap.

14. A container according to claim 13, in which said outer-tubular-casing member is formed with radially projecting means for frictional engagement with the inner surface of said closure cap and serving to load the frictional engagement of said element in a radially inward direction.

15. A container according to claim 12, in which said projecting part is formed for longi tudinal engagement with the skirt of said closure cap.

16. A container according to claim 15, in which said projecting part may only substantially engage the skirt of said. closure cap upon a relative rotation of said inner shell and of said outer tubular casing member.

1'1. In a cosmetic container or the like, a carrier element, an inner tubular element and an outer tubular member including cooperating cam means for propelling said carrier element upon relative rotation of said tubular element and of said tubular member, a closure cap, and friction means including a radially flexible part formed from said member and normally stressed radially inwardly for frictionalengagement with one of said elements for frictionally resisting relative movement thereof, said friction means including a part continuously radially projecting for frictional sliding engagement with the inner wall of said cap, whereby upon placement of said cap suficient friction may be interposed between said one element and said member eifectively to resist relative movement thereof as long as said cap is in place, said friction means being positioned for frictional engagement with a continuous portion of the outer surface of said one element when frictionally slidably engageable with the inner wall of said cap. v

18. In a cosmetic container or the like, a carrier member, two relatively rotatable tubular members including means cooperating with said carrier member to propel said carrier member upon relative rotation of said tubular members, one of said tubular members including a skirt portion at one end, the other of said tubular members including a generally radially extending flanged portion overstanding said skirt portion, a latch abutment on one of said portions, and latch means formed out of the other of said portions and resiliently engageable with said latch abutment in one relative position of said tubular members, whereby said carrier member may be latchingly supported in one propelled position thereof.

19. In a cosmetic container or the like, a carrier, two relatively rotatable tubular members including means cooperating with said carrier member to propel said carrier member upon relative rotation of said tubular members, a closure cap, latch means integrally formed with one of said tubular members and having a generally axially directed latching action and latchingly engaging said relatively rotatable members for one relative position thereof, said latch means integrally including a part projecting generally radially outwardly for engagement by said closure cap, said engagement by said closure cap serving to prevent an action of said latch means upon attempted relative rotation of said members when said cap is placed on said container.

WILLIAM G. THOMPSON. ROBERT B. HOPGOOD.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent: 3

UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Hoffman 1 Jan. 31, 1939 Book Oct. 22, 1946 Mellette Nov. 16, 1948 Number 

